A continent that had been hidden for nearly 375 years has recently been discovered by geoscientists. Known as Zealandia or Te Riu-a-Māui in the Māori language, it covers an area of 1.89 million square miles and was once part of the supercontinent Gondwana over 500 million years ago, alongside Western Antarctica and Eastern Australia.
The existence of Zealandia was first speculated in 1642 by Dutch sailor Abel Tasman, who was in search of the “Great Southern Continent.” While he did not find it, he interacted with the local Māori who provided important information about the surrounding land, including the presence of a large landmass to the east. Despite this, Zealandia remained hidden until 2017 when geologists confirmed its presence.
Scientists are still puzzled by the reasons behind Zealandia breaking away from Gondwana. Much of the continent is underwater, making it an intriguing subject for geologists at the Zealand Crown Research Institute GNS Science. Although Zealandia’s discovery has opened up new avenues for research, it serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most obvious things can remain hidden for a long time.
Nick Mortimer, a leading geologist on the study, humorously noted the uniqueness of Zealandia having only three territories compared to other continents with multiple countries. This discovery sheds light on the wonders of the natural world and the mysteries that continue to be unraveled by
